Saturday, July 30, 2016

For years, the baby boomer generation has dominated and dictated how hotels behaved and marketed themselves. But now, as more and more Gen Y's and Gen X's are traveling, hotels will need to become more sensitive to their needs and their travel habits. And with the emergence of social media as a major marketing platform, hotels will need to refocus their energies on this exciting new medium-a medium dictated by 'young, forward' thinking.

Tackling this shift change in outlook won't be easy for hoteliers. It represents radical, even somewhat zany ideas and requests. For instance, in the past, hotels have always left the lights on for their guests at all times. There's even a major hotel chain that uses that concept as its tagline. But this isn't always what this younger generation desires: in a greener, more environmentally conscious atmosphere, these younger travelers would actually rather you left it dark. These young'uns would rather relish the dark, save the Earth and turn the light on themselves than have you waste all those kilowatts each and every night. This fact is a small taste of the larger shift change that hoteliers face worldwide. Changing not only the way they market their business, but their very business model to boot.

There are a host of other issues and changes the younger traveler brings to redefining the luxury hotel experience. Technology is, quite obviously, at the forefront. And not just cutting edge technology but mobile cutting edge technology. Booking, watching virtual tours, finding rates (and discounts) from not only the host hotel but competitors, viewing room layouts, checking in to checking out all from their handheld electronic device.

If that wasn't enough, all that tech needs to happen before the guest even steps foot into your hotel. Once that boot is on the carpet, you'd better greet them with wireless (free and high speed) Internet, full service business/ fax center, electronic keys (that delete themselves), flatscreen TV's, satellite TV, Tivo, mobile DVD players, iPads, iPod music centers, and electronic self-closing drapes. Of course, make sure all of this technology is always off when not in use! Continuing the green theme, make sure beds, towels and sheets are not changed gratuitously and that any laundry or dry cleaning service is as green as possible.

From a design standpoint, hotels are becoming sleeker with furnishings to boot. Modern, next century design taste dominates. If your hotel doesn't look like it belongs in the 21st century, than you won't get 21st century bookings. More and more younger travelers and travelers with younger tastes dictated by the dominance of social media will create a shift change for your hotel. From design, to tech, to booking methods and marketing, the future of the hotel will be found in the eyes of the next generation.

About Jet Luxury Resorts: Jet Luxury Resorts is the premiere national 4 and 5 star condo-hotel management company that provides truly affordable luxury. JLR is able to offer exclusive, luxurious yet affordable inventory to the rental community through honest, lucrative and dedicated service to condo hotel and fractional owners. Jet Luxury is worldwide including New York, NY, Aspen, CO, Italy, The Signature MGM Grand and The Vdara Hotel in Las Vegas, NV, Tulemar Beach, Costa Rica, Malibu, CA and in Honolulu, HI at the prestigious Trump Waikiki. Find out more at http://www.jetluxuryresorts.com.

Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Every hospitality business, whether it's a single hotel, a chain of hotels or a large resort, needs a hospitality software system to enable the management to see the state of their business in real time, at any time. They need to know what's happening in every area of the business so that they can make informed management decisions.

There is a huge range of hospitality technology systems to choose from so it's crucial to understand what benefits should be seen to ensure the best system is chosen.

All hospitality systems include some accommodation and reservation management modules. Customers today have a variety of ways to book rooms including phone, email, internet and any one of a number of booking companies. This information needs to be collated quickly and correctly to make certain that rooms are available when required and booking mistakes are avoided. Knowing which rooms are available at all times means booking systems and staff can offer these rooms as they are needed. A good reservation system will help increase bookings and improve the customers experience by ensuring their rooms are available and ready exactly when they need them.

Another important area that needs to be well managed and relates to the rooms is housekeeping. Good management of housekeeping will improve the effectiveness of servicing rooms so that room turnaround is fast and efficient. Gone are the days when a guest enters a room that hasn't been cleaned properly or at all. In addition, maintenance issues will be dealt with quickly as they arise and firm control is kept of stock items such as toiletries and cleaning materials. A really good system will also ensure that there is a continuous supply of linen as required.

The front desk of the hotel or resort always leaves a lasting impression with the guest. The staff here will need to know exactly what's happening regarding room reservations, room availability and guest check-in and out, restaurant reservations and spa facilities. Only a fully integrated hospitality system is going to give the front desk staff all the information that they need at hand. In addition they need functionality to handle billing and taking payments. All the guests purchases from room service, restaurants and gift shops needs to be collated to provide a single, detailed invoice at the point of payment. Integrated point of sale software through the property will ensure that the billing and invoicing system works seamlessly.

One crucial feature of the hospitality software is that its user friendly and requires minimal training. The menus should be role-based, ensuring the staff will only need to learn the modules that they'll be using and sensitive information is kept secure.

The payback from investing in a fully integrated hospitality software system will be increased staff efficiency, improved customer satisfaction, reduced stock holding and ultimately, increased profits.

With extensive experience in both the hotel and IT sectors, Sharon is ideally placed to help clients with sourcing and utilizing IT within the hotel and hospitality industry.

Visit the website for more information on increasing revenue through the use of integrated hospitality software [http://www.cenium.com].

Saturday, July 23, 2016

There is an increase in the demand for commercial property. The demand has seen to the rise of such properties with the main intention being to meet the growing demands. The management of commercial property can be challenging considering it is much more than just building maintenance as it used to be years ago. Apart from maintaining the business, management also calls for the expansion of the business and generation of revenue. As a property owner, you will need to come up with proper strategies to generate revenue for your business.

Keep up with regular property upgrades

The property features can determine how attractive it is for the clients. Unlike residential management, commercial management requires that you be up-to-date with the latest features to improve the property. This is something that could touch on alarm systems, security surveillance systems, modern pantry features and latest features to generally improve on the rented space. Convenience is important to businesses and it is one of the things they focus on when looking for commercial space. When you focus on compact, convenient solutions, you will have an easier time maintaining and expanding your streams of revenue from the property.

Be swift with property maintenance

There is nothing worse than a rundown building. Employers understand the importance of boosting employee morale and keeping the workforce motivated and building appearance and state can determine just how possible this turns out to be. Routine property checks are therefore most important. The key areas that attention should be given to include the signage, parking areas, roofing, plumbing systems, paint and landscaping. Furnishings, fixtures and the walls should also be maintained. When everything is clean, in working order and up to date, the property will remain presentable and professional attracting big clients.

Think of the latest technology

Different technologies offer different problem solutions in the corporate world. Property managers therefore need to be abreast with the latest technologies and how they can improve the property by offering convenience and efficiency to the tenants. Keeping up with emerging technological trends before your competition will ensure you attract premium customers to generate more revenue. Modern buildings with better bandwidth, mobile potential and best workstations for instance are in demand. Find out what trends are best for your commercial building to attract high quality customers.

Keep the communication lines open

Clear communication paths between the property management team and renters are always of great value to any property. Managers who know how to deal with tenants, listen to them and deal with their problems are a great addition to any commercial property. Satisfied, happy clients will keep your revenue streams flowing and this means a management team full of patience and with excellent people skills. It is the only way crises can be faced calmly to find the best solutions to keep everyone happy at the end of the day. Besides waiting to hear what complaints or needs the tenants have as far as the property is concerned, you can come up with simple ways of finding out how satisfied they are with the property for improvement purposes.

Wednesday, July 20, 2016

Effective building automation systems design can offer a number of distinct advantages for building owners, occupants and facilities managers. The most common type of automation applications maintain lighting and comfortable temperature levels while reducing energy costs, but automation and controls can handle many other sophisticated tasks as well. Building control systems are only as effective as their design, however, so it's important to identify and engage a knowledgeable and competent engineering consultant early in the planning stages of the project.

The Advantages of Building Automation Technology

The power of building automation systems (BAS) is such that the technology has become almost ubiquitous today for medium-to-large commercial facilities. From an economic perspective, BAS can significantly reduce power use and the associated costs. Ecologically, building controls have been proven to decrease the environmental footprint of those companies that implement them - significantly in many cases. The frequency of replacing costly HVAC and electrical equipment is reduced as BAS curtails wear and tear and alerts you early to any potential problems. Automation systems free up key facilities personnel, allowing them to turn their attention to less mundane tasks. Finally, building occupants enjoy a more secure environment and an increased level of comfort, even while usage, costs and downtime drop. Today's BAS interfaces are easy to use. Whether you have a single building or an enterprise-level portfolio of properties, you can view status and control systems remotely, using a desktop, laptop, tablet or even a smartphone.

A Powerful Scope of Automation Services

Typically, BAS services control some or all aspects of the facility's mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems. On the mechanical side, this may include boilers, chillers, air handlers, fans and heat pumps. Electrical aspects may include security systems, lighting, CCTV, fire alarms or building access. BAS can even monitor and control plumbing systems and the water resources used in the facility's central plant (chilled, hot or condensed water). Services can also be expanded to incorporate many types of specialized technology, including communications systems, servers and clean rooms.

Effective BAS Design for Achieving Desired Outcomes

Although new technology has transformed automation from the complex, difficult-to-understand behemoths of the past, today's user-friendly systems are more challenging than ever to design and plan. For any customer considering or planning a remodel or new facility construction project, a qualified BAS engineer is critical for even the earliest phases of the project. Involving your engineer in the early stages of design can greatly improve the cost of the project. This proactive approach can also cut time from the schedule and, perhaps most importantly, ensure that all aspects of the system meet your needs. Consider using the design-build approach with your engineer, which delivers the most benefit to the client while reducing the project cost and time to completion. Your BAS engineering consultant can assist with drafting construction plans and specifications and help your general contractor select and manage those vendors and subcontractors necessary to handle the installation and programming.

When selecting a mechanical, electrical or automation systems engineer, look for a professional firm that is responsive and seeks above all to understand your needs and goals. Conducting research to find the right engineer prior to launching your project will help ensure a successful building automation systems design.

Jill Smith is a writer and researcher. She is the Director of Digital Content Marketing for Be Locally SEO where she enjoys helping clients expand and improve their businesses through articles, blogs, website content and more.

Saturday, July 16, 2016

Any building manager could guess that their tenants can't afford a network outage. With more and more businesses relying on cloud services, the result of any given outage is a halt to the tenants' business operations. It has been estimated that the average cost-per-minute for the average business IT outage is $5,000.

BICSI, a professional association supporting the information and communications technology (ICT) industry, has published findings that 70 percent of network downtime is due to cabling problems. As cabling is the conduit through which all data passes and the infrastructure that supports all communications that business' may have, ignoring potential cabling problems is equal to dismissing the importance of the vital communications technology infrastructure that supports every business tenant within a building.

With tenants moving in and out and new circuits being added to the building, the amount of cabling grows exponentially. Without a riser management system in place, installation is often rushed and performed in such a way that no documentation or clear record is left of the work that has been completed. Many times as the new cable is brought in and installed into the riser closets the outdated cabling is left to collect dust, creating a spaghetti cabling mess that can cause a fault-isolation nightmare when a circuit goes down.

Preventing a cabling disaster is as easy as having a proper riser management system in place. Checks and documentation practices are a standard part of riser management procedures. Standard riser management procedures should allow only qualified and managed technicians into riser spaces and require them to adhere to a set of best practices. This practice minimizes the risk to critical building infrastructure. A centralized system of documentation and labeling as well as disaster prevention and recovery plans are also essential to preventing riser system catastrophes.

An effective riser management system is a comprehensive solution which is deployable on both a local and national scale. The building managers who work with a riser management company that follows these important factors and the others listed below can rest assured knowing their buildings will be protected from a cabling disaster.

Wednesday, July 13, 2016

A senior living community is much more than just a building full of people. It is a caring environment of residents, family members, nurses, caregivers, and staff members. After all, it's the place residents call home, where they have a sense of comfort and security.

But then again, it is a building full of people-a physical space designed to create a warm environment, while still allowing for the practical functions critical to delivering high-quality care. Shared spaces, apartments, kitchens, and offices must have efficient climate control. This community also needs systems that support energy-saving lighting and appliances to help cut costs. And it needs cutting-edge building technologies that can do everything from track residents' movements to perform basic resident assessments.

Everything that goes into your buildings can either contribute to or detract from your organization's operational excellence. So which building technologies are plausible and affordable?

Smart Building Control

Probably more than ever before, senior living communities are benefiting from a range of HVAC technologies that help save money and increase comfort. Plus, eco-friendly systems help buildings run more efficiently while improving residents' quality of life-particularly when it comes to air quality-making energy-saving systems effective marketing tools, too.

Will Shea, corporate director of facilities management for Newton, Massachusetts- based Five Star Senior Living, says the company has been strategically implementing smart building control systems at several of its communities. "We are taking the latest technologies that are out there and applying them in our buildings in the proper locations," says Shea. In other words, the company is first targeting those communities best suited for these systems and measuring results along the way. This saves on upfront costs and allows for case-by-case customization.

The latest building control systems, for example, allow staff members to accurately monitor a building's various room temperatures in an easy-to-navigate PCbased format. "If part of the building has spiked up to 80 degrees, we can see that right away," Shea explains. Building control systems can also balance load, storing up heating or cooling power for the hours of peak consumption.

A number of Five Star Senior Living communities are being retrofitted with these technologies, starting with the least-efficient buildings. "We are looking at the buildings that are consuming the most energy, the buildings with the oldest equipment," Shea explains. In some cases control systems are 30 years old. Costs for conversion can run $30,000 to $150,000 depending on the size and complexity of the retrofit, "but you can see the ROI on those technologies pretty quickly."

At communities owned and operated by Hershey, Pennsylvania-based Country Meadows Retirement Communities, the push to upgrade control systems has driven efforts to update obsolete heat pumps and similar equipment. The company has steadily been updating infrastructure in many of its 33 communities, some of which date back 15 to 25 years. Newer, more advanced heating units "prevent major temperature swings and save energy, but still allow our residents their individual comfort," says Michelle Hamilton, vice president of operations for the company. "We also have started over the past two years to change out resident room PTAC (packaged terminal air-conditioning) units to more energy-efficient GE Zoneline 5800 model PTACs," she says.

Across many business sectors, building and facilities experts often agree that heating and cooling systems are an area where owners stand to reap the greatest gains in terms of operating costs, comfort, and rapid return on investment.

"The greatest advancements in technology are in the mechanical systems, simply the way we approach heating and cooling buildings," says Doug Pancake, principal at Irwin Pancake Architects, based in Costa Mesa, California. Plus, the progress goes well beyond just air-conditioning. The latest in HVAC technologies marry the structure to the needs of the bottom line. Pancake points to thermal storage as an example.

"We are designing systems that actually generate cold water or ice at nighttime, when you can get a really good price from the power companies," Pancake explains. The idea is to build up a storehouse of cold water when prices are low, "and then in the daytime, when the prices go up, you are circulating that water that is already cold." However, in a strategy like this one, "you have to find a place to keep the tanks," Pancake advises.

'Green' Lights

In 2010, some $60 billion in new construction will fulfill some environmentally friendly criteria, up from $12 billion in 2008, according to McGraw-Hill Construction Research & Analytics.

In practical terms, green building strategies for many senior living communities begin with turning on the lights. While luminescence may not be the most glamorous of all building technologies, it is the one where resident impact and ROI are most readily visible.

Over the past year and a half, Country Meadows has changed out all the incandescent light bulbs in its communities in favor of compact fluorescent lamps, Hamilton says. The result is 75 percent less energy used to produce the same amount of light. "The compact fluorescent lamps are even being used in all chandeliers and sconces, giving a warm, homey feel and still plenty of light."

Hamilton notes that the company has also begun replacing all of its original inefficient fluorescent light fixtures in common areas and corridors to a higher- efficiency Avanti light, which reduces the amount of energy used and has a two-sided wash of light, reducing the number of fixtures needed in most areas yet still producing "a very bright and cheerful ambiance for our residents." Country Meadows is midway through a two-year program to swap out the lighting in all common areas.

At Five Star Senior Living, Shea is doing his retrofit with Sylvania products. "It's low-level technology, but it is also a great way to get out there and see some bottom-line savings quickly, without a lot of capital outlay," he says.

Future Focused

While HVAC and green strategies are solidly in the mainstream, other "a la carte" building technologies also hold promise. Least glamorous and yet arguably the most compelling of the new building technologies is the smart toilet, says James M. Warner, principal of JSA Architecture Planning & Interior Design in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. A unit from manufacturer Toto can perform an automatic urine analysis, as well as measure weight, body mass, blood sugar, and blood pressure. Toto's toilet links to a PC to produce charts and graphs.

"This is the kind of technology that can keep people in an assisted living setting longer and can keep them healthier," Warner says.

Also related to a community's plumbing system, Pancake says the latest piping technology can save time and money in the costly construction process. In particular, the PEX Plumbing System replaces copper with easily-to-install plastic pipes. "It goes in remarkably fast," he explains, and unlike copper, it can take twists and turns without risk of kinking up.

New generations of plumbing and piping may not be among the most exciting building technology topics-but what they lack in glamour, they make up for in cost savings. Still, some building technologies can certainly deliver both- weaving together a higher level of efficiency and a marketable cool factor for the community.

For example, Five Star Senior Living is testing integrated GPS functionality at several of its communities that provide Alzheimer's care. The technology becomes part of the physical building and has the ability to track residents efficiently and unobtrusively. "If somebody went through a door in an elopement situation, you would still be able to locate that resident and get them back quickly," Shea explains. "There are good marketing opportunities in that."

Along these same lines, Warner is fascinated by the latest built-in motion detectors from manufacturers like Philips. These sophisticated infrastructure tools can map a pattern of activities and recognize when something is amiss.

"The software associated with this equipment can analyze movements and if something changes dramatically-if somebody falls or does not get up from a nap-that will alert staff to take a look at what is going on," says Warner. Such motion sensor technologies are becoming so mainstream in senior living communities today that it seems the rest of the population is taking notice. A current research study funded by the National Institute on Aging aims to prevent falls among seniors using the latest motion sensor technologies. Researchers are using sensors in carpets, walls, and clothing to conduct long-term studies of seniors as they age, so that tailored prevention measures can be developed to guard against potential falls and shed light on activity patterns and behaviors.

Doubly Good

Motion sensor technologies, GPS capabilities, toilet analytics, HVAC control systems, next-generation pipes-all of these and many other physical building strategies not only help create a better living environment for residents, they become a selling point for the community. When prospective residents and family members learn about your community and compare it to others in the market, how stacked will your building features be?

Particularly in the competitive senior living business, every effort to enhance resident care and contribute to operational efficiencies matters. Family members and residents alike value green initiatives, for example, making it even more strategic to implement ecofriendly systems.

According to a Harris Interactive poll, more baby boomers and seniors are making the environment and green living a priority in their daily lives: 94 percent of baby boomers have taken steps in the past year to go green; 81 percent are concerned about the environmental legacy they will leave for their grandchildren grandchildren; and 79 percent want to do more to reduce their carbon footprint. Additionally, ALFA is working with the EPA to develop an assisted living category within the Energy Star Healthcare Facilities Division.

http://www.ALFA.org The Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA) is the largest national association exclusively dedicated to professionally operated assisted living communities for seniors. ALFA's member-driven programs promote business and operational excellence through national conferences, research, publications, and executive networks. ALFA works to influence public policy by advocating for informed choice, quality care, and accessibility for all Americans.

Saturday, July 9, 2016

Building management systems (BMS), or building automation systems (BAS) take building efficiency and security to the ultimate level; a clever, cost-effective, and eco-friendly objective for any sustainable building projects. One must think of a BMS as a tool which must be used properly, and maintained properly to function at its optimum; in order to produce the greatest energy saving results, and the lowest operating cost reductions. The fact is today most buildings which already have BMS in place may not be utilizing the system to its full potential; and those buildings which do not have BMS yet are surely not capitalizing on the proven tools available to make their building operating expenses less, and their business competitiveness increased as a result.

Today the affordability of BMS makes building automation accessible to small or medium sized businesses who operate in commercial buildings, retail buildings, industrial facilities, and high and low-rise office buildings. The leading BMS technologies and peripheral devices recommended are flexible to adapt to any size building, and scalable to expand as your business grows. Whether your building or facility already has a BMS in place to be upgraded, or you are considering the integration of a new BMS, the decision to do so is sound considering the free Governmental funding available to aid you in your BMS project. A BMS can also be installed in phases, and the project can be financed, making it simpler to budget and to help you reach your goal of owning the long-term benefits BMS offers; i.e. energy saved, reduced environmental impact, reduced operating expenses, and increased building asset value.

Now is the time to optimize your existing BMS investment with a re-instatement or upgrade to the newest building automation technology, and to protect your investment with real-time monitoring and regularly scheduled maintenance. The expansion of your existing BMS is possible with the latest technologies which 'adapt' to the system you already have installed. The controller can be updated with a more advanced controller which can now even communicate wirelessly with its sensing devices, making the prospect to add-on more sensing devices and the gathering of all-important data even easier. The data gathered is also more easily accessible, giving the building manager true transparency of the buildings status and the ability to make changes simply via the Internet.

Make use today of available Governmental grants and incentives to achieve the best return on investment (ROI) for your BMS project. At present there are various programs in Ontario, Canada offering free funding to help you with your building energy efficiency investments. Contact your local building technologies service company for help with the design of your building energy saving solution; including the integration, and maintenance of the system for long-term uninterrupted operability. More information on the available grants/incentives from Ontario Power Authority (OPA), the Retail Council of Canada (RCC), and the Ontario Ministry of Energy are highlighted below:

OPA "saveONenergy" Programs for Business Pay Up-to 50% of Your Project Costs. Incentives are available for high efficiency equipment such as lighting, motors and heating, and for installing new building control systems to improve the over-all efficiency of your building.

RCC is now also offering the "Energy Bright" program to help the Retail Industry realize the integration of BMS. RCC is pleased to provide incentives to all stakeholders who influence energy consumption in the retail environment, including: retailers of all sizes, service providers that work with retail customers, and property managers that lease retail space.

Ontario Ministry of Energy Offers Grants and Incentives To Help You Reach Your Energy Saving Goals. There are many conservation and renewable energy programs available from the Ontario Ministry of Energy to help you in your efforts to be more energy aware for your business.

A Safe and Secure Building Assessment™ of your building by our qualified technicians will pin-point where energy efficiency, safety and security improvements can be had, accurately revealing the most viable, user-friendly, and cost-effective solution for your specific needs at hand.

For additional information please visit http://www.CanatechOne.com, or call Canatech One at 905.608.1222 or 800.746.4421; or email info@canatechone.com. Canatech One has serviced the building technology needs of Industry in Ontario, Canada with localized support for nearly fifteen years. We are working hard towards our second decade milestone of proven building technology integrations and customer care.

Wednesday, July 6, 2016

The real estate world has seen a dip in the dealings be it leasing, buying or selling, especially in the recent times. In today's tough economic times, making a new customer is challenging and so is retaining an existing one. Real estate agents have to be at their marketing best at all times and for it they need to be tech friendly.

You might be the best at what you do, but until you communicate it in the right way with the right tools, your efforts might be getting wasted. Technology and communication need to go hand in hand and failure in this issue can see you lag behind compared to your competitors. More importantly, there needs to be a balance between the two and to bring that balance in your profession you need to be working on both the aspects simultaneously. Everything from client communication, connecting with new customer database, sales pitch, after sales service and other such interactions need to be done effectively with the help of technology.

Being in the real estate business, you might have noticed that the presentation or bidding of a real estate agent lacking in the technological aspect affects the whole deal. So instead of avoiding technology why not adapt it to fare better as it will assist you in ways you couldn't have thought possible. All you need to do is incorporate a few of the technological tools in your everyday dealings making it swifter for you and effective for the customer.

Here are some tips to get you started.

Smartphone

If you are still using your old mobile phone it is time you switch to a smartphone with a data plan that lets you incorporate database tools. It will prove to be really helpful when you need to contact your prospective clients no matter if you are in the office or out on the go. You can do it all from your smartphone be it sending or receiving emails, browsing property websites, downloading real estate related news apps, communicate instantly no matter where you are.

SMS marketing

SMS marketing is an highly effective way to keep in touch with your regular clients and even getting acquainted with new ones. Make it a part of your client communication strategy where you can send notifications, inform them about new properties on the market, send reminders for installments, invite them for property related events, send them links, details and other market related information.

Email communication

Emails have become an essential feature when it comes to client communication. It is a quick and convenient way to reach out to property agents, builders, customers especially when it comes to commercial property clients. Make sure to use the best data software for both your computer and smartphone so you can send and receive e-mail even when on the go.

Software

Many software packages are especially designed for the real estate industry and are available at affordable prices to assist the real estate professionals. You can integrate it in your system for database entry, facilitate management of broker, staff, leads, quotes, customer account, auditing and other processes. The softwares are designed to meet the ever-growing demands of the real estate industry and can be used by all, developers, builders, contractors, infrastructure developers.

Website

Your personal website can boost your clientele and your work reputation as it will be easy for clients to know all about your work increasing the trust and dependability factor. They will have a gateway where they can access your property listings and inspection information related to all the properties that you have on offer.

Presentation software

While presenting a property to many clients or a team you could make use of presentation software with the help of which you can add site photographs, 3D images, manage content, basically create an awesome visual experience for the client giving your property bid a boost.

All these and more can be a part of your everyday dealings when it comes to presenting, negotiating, selling or closing a deal. Like every other field, real estate too is embracing technology and it's time you too go for it.

Need help with SMS solutions for your real estate dealings? Look no further than https://msg91.com. MSG91 is a leading SMS solution provider offering text message solutions to 90+ countries in real estate and other industries.

Saturday, July 2, 2016

The digital age is moving at a pace of unprecedented speed, and the commercial real estate industry is not exempt from the effects. Commercial real estate has adapted to these new advances by creating mobile applications that assist market professionals in meeting the needs of their clients and prospective renters. In any real estate office, these apps can be seen as technological advances that are shaping the industry's growth by increasing communication, organization, and best of all, saving time!

ReaLyncReaLync has all bases covered when it comes to facilitating client-broker communication and organizing virtual tours and open houses. It is an interactive property touring app that saves time and money. ReaLync is ideal for fostering client-broker relationships and establishing clarity between prospective renters and commercial real estate brokers. Clients using the app can create client profiles to communicate directly with real estate agents and brokers via the app's messaging feature. ReaLync's pricing for agents and brokers is minutes-based, starting at only $9.99 a month with a free 30-day trial. However, the app is free for renters and buyers.

Honest BuildingsHonest Buildings is an application directly targeted at commercial real estate contractors and vendors. A self-proclaimed "cross between Yelp and LinkedIn for the build world," Honest Buildings is all about efficiency and precision. It allows users who are looking to renovate a property to connect with vendors who showcase their work on the app. The app provides owners or brokers in any commercial office a forum to find and hire the right vendors for the right project. With a streamlined system, you do not have to worry about doing reference checks or pricing out various bids. Perhaps, one of the best features of Honest Buildings is that it's completely free for project owners and fast.

HelloSignThe HelloSign app represents the direction that the commercial real estate industry is headed. A mobile scan-and-sign app, HelloSign supports the green movement as it promotes paperless security for commercial real estate professionals. It allows its users to scan and sign a document by taking a picture of it on a mobile device. In addition, the app doubles as a PDF editor which allows the user to make last-minute changes to a secure document before sending it off. The app has a free trial that allows users to scan and sign up to three documents in a month. The paid options range from $13 per month to $40 per month.

LeaseMatrixLeaseMatrix is a dream come true for commercial real estate brokers! It provides easy and fast comparisons for commercial real estate professionals by allowing its users to observe multiple leases at once. LeaseMatrix performs all calculations that would traditionally be figured through a spreadsheet, thus reducing, if not eliminating, the errors that are so frequently made when the calculations are performed manually. Though the app is web-based, it is available for use on all mobile devices. LeaseMatrix costs $29 per month or $295 per year with additional packages for office subscriptions.

In today's tech-savvy and fast-paced work environment, it is essential that all workers have access to the latest tools that enable them to work not only harder, but smarter. For the commercial real estate industry, these four applications can make all the difference in a gained sale. Whether you're looking to improve overall communication or provide transparency to employees and prospective clients, these applications will allow you to stay ahead of the game while saving yourself some time.

Portia Dempsey is the Property Manager at Camroad Properties. Located in Phoenix, Arizona, Camroad is a privately owned and managed commercial real estate leasing company. With 10 properties in Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa, Camroad is committed to providing Class A amenities at Class B rates to its renters since it started in 1991. In addition, Camroad is proud of its position in having some of the highest occupancy rates and longest tenant relationships in the Phoenix Valley. Interested in learning more about Camroad Properties and the latest trends in Arizona office space? Please visit our blog today or contact us to learn more about commercial real estate opportunities in Arizona!